Title: Future in Crimson Hands

Author: sky75rk

A/N: so sorry for the late update… I was… uhm… just busy…

Ichiraku's ramen stall was by far the most productive stall in the whole of Konoha. How ever could they become bankrupt when the most hyperactive ninja in Leaf was constantly eating off all his salary with ramen? And the fact that he was always dragging other people in there to either treat him or eat with him was adding to the much desired profit of the stall. This leaves the owner very happy and quite fond of the bubbling ball of golden youth. Besides… how could someone resist someone who draws money to a person and not to mention, smiles as well?

The owner placed Naruto's sixth bowl of ramen, now shrimp ramen, in front of him and watched with a smile as the young boy dug into the bowl almost greedily.

Naruto on the other hand, was just getting over the incident that almost got him wasted away. After the fall, he vowed never again to stare at the full moon, or any other shapes of the moon, as long as he lives his life. And what he couldn't understand was the scenes that keeps haunting him in his dreams… and even during missions and breaks… and some of them even happens in real life. Like the time when I saw in my mind that Sakura would trip down the mud. And the time when I knew where the missing cat was. Feels like I know what's going to happen next. Naruto stopped eating to think. Maybe it's MY bloodline limit. No, wait. Naruto shook his head rather violently, droplets of ramen soup that gathered in the noodle that was still dangling from his mouth splattered in different places and… faces. Then, he heard a chain clanking and clicking on his neck. He put his chopsticks down and clasped the key wounded on his neck. The key that holds history. Is this what she was telling me about? That if I have this key, I can see the future and perhaps… the past too? Getting serious, he finished the last of his ramen and paid the owner.

He bowed his head thoughtfully as he walked lines of his theory running in his head and vaguely he wondered, whether he should believe it or not. But with more than one thing he had seen that came true… it was surely more than coincidences now. He raised his head a bit and saw Iruka going his way. He knew his former sensei had seen him, as Iruka was already smiling and waving at him.

The wind blew and leaves from trees began moving alongside the wind. One leaf found Naruto's face and settled against his big blue eyes. The blonde moved his hand to remove the obstacle away.

What? The blonde youth's eyes widened in fright. All of a sudden, before his eyes, he saw Hinata standing by the bridge, with Sound-nins surrounding her. With the number of almost lifeless bodies around her, he noticed that she was fighting back using her bloodline limit, but clearly, she was outnumbered. Then, as she dodged the next attacks by several ninjas, she was hit in the stomach that caused her to stumble and slide back; clutching her side, pain was evident. Naruto then saw a glimmering object behind Hinata that was fast making its way to her. No! Hinata-chan look out! He shouted, but his shouted words were futile, as the kunai imbedded itself into the kunoichi's heart.

The wind blew yet again.

Naruto staggered backwards and his knees buckled weak. He was caught by two firm arms. "Are you alright, Naruto?" a deep voice asked him in concern, and slightly, he looked around, trying to reminding himself that he was still on the other side of Konoha. On the other side! He thought, panic rising. He pushed aside Iruka sensei in attempt to make his way to the bridge as fast as he could. "I'm fine Iruka-sensei! I'll see you later!" he called as he dashed away, leaving behind a puzzled Iruka behind.

Naruto sped his way towards the bridge, weaving in and out of the restless crowd, not minding the hateful looks of the people he was passing by nor their spiteful words. Only one thing runs through his mind at the moment. Hinata.

He wished that it wasn't true. He wished he was just being delusional or he was only hallucinating. But with the number of times that he had been correct, he wasn't going to take any chances right now.

Jumping on the rooftops, he gathered that it was the fastest way. As he saw the clearing and the bridge, he sucked in his breath.

Hinata was there, fighting off the Sound-nins.

The blonde ran even faster than before, seeing as Hinata was kicked in the stomach and stumbled back. "HINATA-CHAN!" he shouted and lunged forward, crashing with the female Hyuuga on the wooden ground. He whirled around wildly, seeing the kunai that took the life of his friend in his vision imbedded on the ground. He stood up and took Hinata's hand and he gently pushed her behind him. Hinata blushed. "W-what a-are you d-doing here, N-N-Naruto-k-kun?" she stammered, still blushing mindly as she felt the heat left behind by Naruto's sudden arrival.

Naruto grinned at her with triumph. "Here to help you of course!" he said and drew out his own set of kunai. He charged at the intruders and injured them and soon, Hinata joined him, covering him as he attacked.

After a few minutes, they fled.

"Bunch of cowards," she heard Naruto mutter under his breath. She laughed softly and saw the kunai left on the wood. "A-ano…" she started and the blonde glanced at her. He trailed to where her eyes were looking and saw the same kunai that threatened Hinata's life.

"No problem Hinata-chan," he intervened, knowing what the Hyuuga would probably say next. Nevertheless, Hinata still said it.

Thank you.

The Hokage's room was usually always quiet despite the onslaught of visitors coming in to request for missions or for them to be given missions, and somehow, it was not giving her any headaches… yet.

"Tsunade-baachan!" and thus, the everyday routine start once again. Tsunade rubbed her head in order to subside the growing pain in her head.

"What is it now brat?"

The blonde youth slammed the door rather heavily behind him that earned him a hit on the head. "Itai! Why'd you have to do that?" Naruto shouted, trying to get back at the still kind of young Hokage. All in vain as Tsunade merely put his finger on Naruto's forehead and stopped his tracks.

"Why are you here anyway, Naruto?" she asked and the person in question stopped his attempts and quietly plopped on the ground.

"We were attacked,"

-Continued-

Damn… I think I have just patterned this episode to Escaflowne. Grr… anyway, sorry for the short chapter guys… give me some ideas/sheepish grin/

Review?